Name: My Life and Yours
Genre; Prediction of Manga from 516
Background; So obviously a little of this is outdated now, but not hugely. Some of the manga hasn't taken the same direction, some of it still has the ability to. We'll see. This one, again, ends a little abruptly, but i did tweak it so it added the theory of Mavis's Fairy Heart. I binge-wrote this because I was scared of losing the ideas before the manga shaped new ones, but most of the ideas in this I've had for months and I'd love to know if any of you had similar ones! But oh gosh the cheese. All the cheesy cheese. That was the main reason I couldn't bring myself to write this anymore!
Lucy Cares for Natsu
"Natsu please, please," Lucy's tears spoke louder than her choked words as she stared at her beloved. Everyone's eyes were on the silent Slayer, but none were filled with more tears than Lucy and Happy's, sharing their pain even if they didn't even acknowledge each other's presence while such fear was in front of them. "I'm begging you, wake up," she said, her hands curled into tiny balls against his chest as her forehead leaned against his cold skin.
"Lucy-san?" Juvia pulled herself up uneasily, receiving gasps as everyone suddenly remembered that the injured water wizard was also by their side. She had a hand on her forehead, fingers curled around her bloody and sweat soaked blue hair. "Where is Juvia? What happened?" she asked.
"Juvia…!" Lucy breathed, sitting up a little more as her attention finally turned. "Are you alright?"
Juvia frowned, still feeling the pain running through her body but knowing now at least she would survive and would eventually have the strength to fight again. She glanced around, her heart quickly racing in her chest. "Where is Gray-Sama?" she asked.
Lucy blinked, at first wondering why she would ask such an obvious question before seeing that Juvia's hand was resting on the bedding that Gray had been lying on only minutes before. Perhaps it had been even longer than, their attention had been taken so absolutely by the Dragon Slayer's failing condition. "What? Where did he go?!" she asked, shocked he could move at all, never mind so silently that he hadn't disturbed even the obsessive water wizard.
Brandish tilted her head to the side curiously, watching the entire scene with a distance that no Fairy Tail mage could be possible of. "Is it possible he overheard the exceed and is trying to destroy Zeref in order to destroy END?" she asked.
Lucy gasped, the shock hitting her so hard that her entire body shook violently. "That-that can't be true!" she exclaimed loudly, far too loudly for her own justification. "Gray wouldn't do that to Natsu!"
Brandish's face tilted away more, not wishing to receive the blunt end of Lucy's anger for only speaking her observations. "Was he not just trying to kill him?" she asked absently.
Lucy's hands tightened into fists, the look of determination on her face beginning to waver. She could feel the cold chill from her friend's body beneath her, and knew that although Brandish had done a perfect job of healing whatever injuries were obvious, there would still be pain and exhaustion brought by the Ice Maker – or rather, the Iced Devil Slayer. She didn't like to think of them both as the same person right now, not after seeing Natsu fall to the floor before him. "He stopped…" Lucy tried to justify, her voice shaking as new tears fell from her eyes. "He wouldn't hurt Natsu, I know he wouldn't. I know that they fight. But he is a Fairy Tail mage, and I have to believe in him. Because I know that Natsu does."
Brandish wasn't going to argue. She said her piece and shrugged her shoulder, but it was clear that her opinion was shared by some of the others.
Ever looked between each of her nakama and the two spriggan, a frown on her face as she pushed back her glasses. "Is this really a gamble that we can afford to take right now?" she asked.
"There is a chance that he is not making his own decisions," Polyusica explained slowly, receiving stunned and horrified looks from across the room. "Gray came to me when he first received the Devil Slayer magic. The markings were troubling, but there was something deeper. The magic is bonding with his soul. I warned him that if he continues to use it at such an alarming rate it will consume everything he is."
Lucy's eyes grew wider. "You mean…?"
Polyusica nodded. "The Demon Slayer magic may be taking control."
"Juvia… must find her Gray-sama…" Juvia murmured, pulling herself to her feet as she wobbled dangerously.
Polyusica was quickly to her side, holding her before she could collapse completely. "You're not in any state to go anywhere right now," she snapped at her, trying to force her back to her bed, but the water mage was trying her hardest to push past her. "This is a battle-field, you'll be killed if you try to go before you're at full strength."
"But Gray-sama… won't be at full strength either…" Juvia tried to argue.
"I'll go with you," Brandish said, her arms folded across her chest as everyone turned, surprised by her sudden acceptance and willingness to help. "You won't be in any danger by my side, but if Gray is really going to try and kill the emperor it is my duty to stop him," she explained, knowing that she couldn't be trusted but whichever side she fought for her motives would be the same.
Lucy hesitated. She found herself believing in Brandish more than she knew she should have, wishing that she could explain exactly why she was so drawn to what should have been her closest friend if fate had been favourable, but she wasn't a fool. She knew that Brandish was a Spriggan, the mark was still against her skin and she had limited loyalty towards Fairy Tail. "Please, don't hurt him," she begged as she gave her permission, her hand wrapped around Natsu's tightly.
"I make no promises," she said to Lucy, ignoring the dangerous look that Juvia was giving her.
Erza Cares for Wendy
Erza gasped, falling to her knees as her mother fell before her. Her eyes were wide, heart racing in her chest so hard that she felt it would be ripped out, and not only from physical exhaustion. Eileen may not have been a part of her life but the knowledge of her mother and the abandonment that she had faced still hurt more than she could have ever expected. Her pain ran deep through her soul with a wild look in her eyes, knowing that she couldn't even feel the warmth of the master there to offer her the family replacement that had twisted before her eyes.
Over her heavy breathing and racing heart she began to hear something. There was screaming, sobbing, and for a moment she thought it was her own. She glanced up, seeing the smallest Dragon Slayer wrapped into a tight ball and holding onto her injured leg as tears poured down her face.
Slowly, Erza crawled to her friend. "Wendy?" she whispered, hesitantly putting a hand on her shoulder.
"It hurts…" Wendy whimpered, pulling herself up and wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't stronger or braver, Erza-san. I wanted to show you that I could protect myself."
Erza looked surprised, remembering the last conversation between the requip wizard and the Dragon Slayer. Just like then, she grabbed her shoulders tightly and pulled her quickly into her huge breasts, arms wrapped around her with a soft smile. "You should be exceptionally proud, Wendy," she said truthfully. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Wendy's eyes glistened with tears, unsure whether she fully believed Erza but she knew that her heart was pure. She tightened her grip, gladly burying deeper into her chest. "Thank you... Master Erza…" she whispered.
Erza's eyes grew wide. She wasn't ready to be the new master, she had only ever filled in the position temporarily and the kind statement stung her like a blade. Her master, the man who had cared for her as a father, was gone, but Fairy Tail remained and they needed her strength. Wizard's like Wendy would always need a strong and guiding light. She took the rare moment of serenity within the battle field to put her hand on the young slayer's hair, to let herself watch her with a comforting smile and allow her to take whatever strength she needed. Slayers were always the most adaptable when it came to drawing upon each other's strength.
Natsu Talks with his Fathers
Natsu looked down from his father's huge flaming shadow, unable to look him in the eye even after the years of wanting nothing more than to see him. The words he said were now painful, seeing him was painful even if he knew there was supposed to be some comfort in knowing even if he died now he would be once again by his father's side.
Just as he was starting to become familiar with the presence of his old man, the swirling winds of his mind magic reared once more and it was replaced by another father figure. This one was much smaller, the loss far more fresh as Natsu turned away more violently, tears in his eyes knowing he was there even before a single word was uttered.
"All great wizards die one day, and that is a blessing," Makarov's gravelling voice washed over the blank landscape, twisting through Natsu's soul. "Life and death are what keeps us sane, or else we become like your brother. Immortality is what many strive for but it is not a gift."
Natsu's body shuddered, unable to draw upon his usual anger with the crushing sadness. "It's too soon," he said. "I don't want to die, I don't want any of my friends to die. This is because of me. All of this is because Zeref wants to destroy me. I want to be there to protect them," he said, his fist gripping tighter as he tried desperately to pull on the ray of hope that usually kept his heart warm. But he was cold now, a cold that tore through his body unpleasantly wrapping around his heart.
"There is one last piece to this puzzle," Makarov said knowingly, brushing his moustache as he reluctantly spoke. "The demon seed inside of you is growing and merging with the Dragon Slayer seed, this is killing you. But that demon seed is directly linked to Zeref's immortality. It is true, if Zeref dies you will die. But if you die, Natsu, Zeref will finally become mortal again."
Gray Meets Zeref
Gray was unrelenting as he pressed forwards, a determined look in his eyes as he knew his only goal. His skin was perfectly white now, his guild mark showing in its purest of blue colours between the twists of his bandages. Even during their fight to the death, somehow Natsu had had the common sense to not even attempt a scratch against his guildmark. He wasn't certain if it was luck or something deep inside of the Dragon Slayer that had not lost his sense of self, even when all else was lost.
The first wave of enemies approached, but the Devil Slayer had little patience for them. He pushed his geysers forwards, separating the crowds of armies with a single swipe of his magic and watched the horror in their faces. The expression on his face was enough to terrify, no longer caring for life or death, beyond even his own sense of pain as he paid little mind to the blasts of energy that came dangerously close. He had met his end to similar weapons before and he had nothing left to fear from them, instead returning his own deadly lances straight to the enemies.
"Zeref!" he called loudly, pushing back the enemy forces. There were some that would be able to teleport past his huge glassy walls, but the numbers would be staggered and thin, easy pray to the fierce Fairy Tail fighter. He wanted to lose as little power as possible before facing the dark emperor, and a frown was crossing his face. Natsu had faced him this way, and he was determined to get an audience with the leader. "Zeref, show yourself you coward!" he hollered across the vast valley.
Gently the dark winds gathered behind him, the scent of death in the air. Gray turned suddenly, eyes wide as the enemy materialised in front of him and for the first time able to see not only the emperor before him, but also the Dragneel. He felt himself cursing his own blindness, his newly heightened senses taking in everything from the familiar smell to the curve of his eyes. "Zeref," he growled.
Zeref had a small and confident smile on his face. The war had been waging for a long time now and he barely bore a scratch, while he could see the new enemy before him was battered and bruised to the point it was an amazing feat he was even still standing. But then he knew best to underestimate this particular wizard. "You are the one who took Memento Mori," he remembered, even if he couldn't recall his name.
Gray's frown deepened, remembering their last moment as he first felt the overpowering demon slayer bond twisting darkness across his skin. He could feel it wavering inside of him now, ready to latch out and consume his body once more but he held it back. He needed a clear head and he couldn't let himself fold into the comforting black curse. "I am Gray Fullbuster. And I will be the one to stop you," he said, determination flaring in his eyes as he threw forwards his first attack.
Zeref dodged backwards, his own eyes glimmering as he felt the impressive power pushing through the land around him and submerging the world into cold. It was completely different to the hot magic that he had been fighting earlier, losing himself in thought as attack after attack came hurtling towards him and he continued to dodge out of the way. As his own fist came slamming into Gray's back and he watched him crumple forwards, he spoke his curiosities aloud, "Your ice magic is different to Invel's."
Gray cried out in pain, feeling his wounds opening once again. Brandish had shrunk most of his injuries to nothing, including the one that was supposed to have taken his life, but he could still feel their ache and pain. The magic that Zeref had was phenomenal, every crushing blow enhanced with black magic and the terrifying realisation that he could have killed him in a moment. He was playing with him, driven by curiosity, which was exactly what Gray needed. He knew he didn't have the power to defeat him in a fair fight and would take any blessing possible. He turned quickly, his boot slamming straight against where he thought that the cursed wizard should be standing and instead finding nothing but air.
Zeref smiled to himself, hearing the screams and lack of an answer from Gray and surmising that he was trying to extend his own life. While the enemy posed little threat and Zeref was ready to unleash his Arkharam curse at a moment's notice, he was content, occupying himself with once again pushing his dark energy attack against Gray's back. "This is Devil Slayer Ice, isn't it?" he questioned.
Gray's eyes grew wide. He could feel the pain running through his body, but he was jolted by Zeref's words. He hadn't used his Devil Slayer magic once, the black tattoo on his arm the only sign of the lost magic which flowed through his body, and somehow Zeref had been able to see through it. He couldn't bring himself to move, temporarily frozen as Zeref sent him hurtling across the battlefield.
"I understand," the dark lord said as he watched the dust settle around the ice wizard, his expression cold and unflinching. "Slayer magic is a dangerous yet powerful tool. Without the correct anti-particles or immunity, your body will eventually break down. Perhaps you have already felt it, the darkness inside of your mind, blocking your rational thoughts. It will only get worse. Stopping yourself from using this power will slow it down, but it will not stop until eventually it either kills you or controls you. You do not strike me as the kind to die so easily. I believe – no, I am certain – you will become demonic. You will become the thing that you hate the most."
Natsu is Challenged
Natsu fell to his knees. Not only was his death imminent, it was necessary. He had been willing to give his life to end Zeref's before, but now that he was staring at it and feeling the two seeds inside of him twisting and combining he could feel the chill of horror taking over him.
Slowly, he could once again feel the shape twisting in front of him. He didn't want to see anyone else that he cared about before him, he didn't want to know who else was going to die because of the sibling rivalry. He turned away, looking down, and unintentionally meeting the eyes of the small exceed.
"I don't want you to die, Natsu," Happy said to him, his eyes wide and streaming with heavy tears.
Natsu shivered, throwing his sleeve over his eyes and burying his tears into his arm. "You're not really here, Happy. You're just my imagination," he shouted, finally understanding.
"But I'm waiting for you," Happy shouted back, walking forwards and putting a paw out to Natsu. "You promised me! You said you'd find another way!"
"There isn't another way!" Natsu yelled at the top of his voice, closing his eyes tightly.
"There is always another way," Erza said to him, the tiny paw of the exceed now replaced by her hand. Her words were strong and surprisingly soft and he could feel that her face was close to his, almost touching against the arm which he used to block her from sight. He couldn't escape the knowledge of his own mind's eye, however, and she continued to stare at him. "Right now, all of Fairy Tail is out there fighting for you. They may not know it yet, but even if they did their hearts wouldn't waver. There is another way, somewhere deep inside it and you know it. This is why you're speaking to us now, we are trying to tell you something."
Natsu shivered, falling forwards and feeling that the woman in front of him was changing yet again. He couldn't keep up, his heart racing quickly in his chest as the impending doom toppled over him. "I'm dying! That's what Igneel said! That's what Gramps said! I can feel that I'm dying!" he said, clutching onto his chest and fighting the cold.
"So? Are you just going to give up?" Gray's voice washed over him.
Natsu looked up with wide lost eyes before frowning angrily. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
Gray rolled his eyes. "Have you seriously not got this yet…?"
Natsu growled, gripping the ground fiercely. "There's no way you're a part of me, Popsicle!"
Gray smirked, seeing the Dragon Slayer had at least been able to snap himself out of his depression long enough to throw insults. He was a part of Natsu, but this was the part that knew that he sometimes needed someone to lure him into his own competitive fire in a way that only the cold could. "I'll ask you again. Are you just going to give up?" he asked him.
Natsu paused, realising that even if he couldn't justify Gray being here he could still listen. His eyes were wide, the drop of hope sinking into his pit of despair. "What?" he asked, barely able to hear.
"Are you just going to let me win?" Gray asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked down at the Dragon Slayer on his knees. "I wanted you to die, are you going to let me win?"
Natsu gritted his teeth, jumping up to his feet. "Like hell I am!"
The image of Gray swirled before him, the strong and beautiful blond taking his place as she met his determination with her own. "Then you need to listen to me very closely, Natsu," Lucy offered, holding out her hand to him, "And don't let go."
Gray is Determined
Gray gritted his teeth hard, pulling himself up. His entire body wavered, almost toppling straight back into the ground, taking every ounce of strength he had to look squarely at Zeref. Something inside of him was bleeding and the blood was dripping from his lip, but the pain was manageable compared to that he wanted to give this dark lord. The one that had created the demon that had destroyed his parents, his home, the darkness that had taken not one but two of his masters. "What of it?" he asked, the hatred in his eyes unflinching as he glared back at him. "Even if I have to become a demon to overcome you, that's what I will do," he said, rushing forwards and slamming his body against Zeref's.
Zeref was caught off-guard, eyes wide as he was thrown backwards. Gray didn't have an advantage, but in this moment he was throwing more successful punches than misses despite his quickly deteriorating condition. "So, you plan to take yourself out in a blaze of glory before you turn?" Zeref questioned as he felt yet another successful punch against his chest, throwing his own forwards and sending the Ice Maker skidding backwards. Looking at him now, he could see the Devil Slayer's skin had finally turned black, the curling tattoo tracing up his arm and spreading up to his face. "Do you think that you're the first Slayer to throw themselves on the sword?"
Gray hissed, swapping to his ranged attacks without a moment's hesitation as the distance was placed between himself and Zeref. He knew that he wasn't winning, and he still had no chance of succeeding in this way but he wasn't giving up yet. "You have no idea what I'm capable of," he breathed, hurtling his iced cannon towards the enemy.
Zeref jumped up, the iced weapon grasping onto his legs at the last moment and pinning him in place. He cursed, knowing that he would be in for a world of pain, but it wouldn't be long until the ice melted and the tables were once again turned. "Need I remind you that I'm immortal. You have no way of killing me," he glared. "And even if you could, you would be murdering your friend. If I die, Natsu dies."
Gray smirked, a grim desperation leaking sadness into his eyes. "Who said anything about killing you?" he said, positioning himself for his most powerful of Ice Make attacks.
Natsu Wakes Up
Lucy leaned close against the Dragon Slayer, trying her hardest to push her body heat into him. The longer she waited the colder he became until it felt even like her own tears had frozen. The worried looks had disappeared into their own exhaustion. Their captive was beyond interested, Ever was in a tight ball and letting her head tilt forwards, Polyusica only occasionally moved around to see if there was anything more to do for the Dragon Slayer. Lucy sighed, feeling her tears against his chest. "Natsu, I can't imagine Fairy Tail without you," she whispered under her breath. "I can't imagine another day of going to the guild if you weren't there. If it wasn't for you, I would never have joined, I never would have made such amazing friends and… I need you. Please wake up. Please," she begged him.
A single tear hit his chest and hissed.
She blinked, staring at the teardrop as it disintegrated into hot steam. Suddenly she could feel it, the cold was coming from her own cheek instead of from the chest she was resting against and it was warming quickly. "Natsu?" she whispered, barely able to believe what she feeling as she leaned upwards.
Suddenly, his eyes were open and wide, sitting up with a start.
"Natsu!" Happy cried out, flying into his chest and hitting the Dragon Slayer heavily.
Natsu looked around, his hand instinctively around Happy as he buried himself deep against his chest. The images of his friends, comrades and family were replaying in his mind, trying to pinpoint what had been a magical message and what had just been a dream. "Happy…" he whispered to his exceed.
"Nastu!" Lucy exclaimed, new tears appearing in her eyes. "You need to stop scaring us like that, you know," she told him, trying to let her new happiness give her bravery.
It wasn't the familiar goofy smile that crossed his face when he looked at Lucy, however, and instead he leaned closer. His forehead rested against hers, staring at her with a strangely serious look on his face. "I know what we have to do."
Lucy looked back at him, her heart suddenly racing in her chest even faster than when she had been filled with terror. Something about his closeness was both terrifying and exhilarating, feeling his hand against her hair and unable to take her eyes from his. He could apparently take his eyes off hers, however, as he suddenly exclaimed, "Uh, Lucy, why are you naked?" with a growing smile.
Lucy screamed, suddenly remembering to cover herself and grabbing the blanket that had been wrapped around Natsu and instead wrapping it around herself. "Don't look, pervert!" she yelled loudly.
"Huh?" Natsu tilted his head to the side, genuinely confused. "Wait, why am I naked?!"
Lucy blushed even more deeply. "It was-I-uh-" she stuttered.
"I didn't think she'd actually do it," Polyusica whispered loudly to Ever.
Mavis Heads Towards Zeref
Mavis gasped, her heart heavy in her chest as she disappeared out of sight from both friend and foe. She didn't dare let herself open to either as the tears rolled down her face. Makarov was dead, and she knew in her heart that it was because of her own weakness. It was because of this weakness that there were people from all over Fiore fighting, dying, living the nightmares that would haunt them all for the rest of her life. All because of her wavering heart. She put her hand on her chest, feeling her sobs running through her body and continuing to walk forwards as the harsh ground bit into her bare feet painfully. She hadn't walked for over a hundred years and now she was walking on jagged rocks. She hadn't held a single breath and now her body was wracked with painful sobbing. She hadn't felt the sunshine or heard a voice or saw a smile or smelt a flower and now she was surrounded by death. It felt like being surrounded by her killing curse for the very first time all over again.
That was another reason she couldn't trust herself with her allies. She remembered the fear in Zeref's eyes when they had first met, the fear that she had learnt with the deaths of so many. The curse was still rippling under her skin, hiding but not lost. There would be only one that she should grant death to, if only she could.
She raised her head, staring in the distance and feeling the calculations and magical energy rushing through her. Zeref would be to the West, so her bleeding feet would continue West. She would end this now.
Natsu Finally Realises
Natsu's clothes were back on by the time that Poluyusica and Lucy explained exactly what had happened to him from their own perspective. Natsu frowned as he listened, occupying himself with replacing his clothes and examining the new bandages across his body and flexing the aches and pains that had overcome him. He didn't understand exactly what he had dreamt and what had been real, the entire vision had felt like a mixture of both, and he didn't dare confuse or concern his friends.
Happy leaned forwards, finally burning with his own guilt as he suddenly exclaimed. "I'm sorry, Natsu!" Natsu looked at him blankly, but the exceed couldn't see through the tears in his eyes. "I had to tell them about Zeref! I couldn't let them kill him! I couldn't let you die!"
Natsu looked shocked, staring back at the blue exceed and unable to deny that for a split second it felt as if he'd been stabbed in the back. The emotion disappeared as quickly as it arrived, however, seeing the pain in his eyes as he gripped onto Natsu's trousers and let his tears soak into the black material. His hand was on Happy's head, a warming smile on his face. "It's OK," he said. "I should have told everyone from the start. I know it's pretty confusing, and I didn't really understand it, but I guess now I do a little more."
"It was foolish to say it at all," Dimaria whispered under her malicious grin, a sense of victory in her eyes as she looked at the downfall of her enemies. Her expression filled with hatred as she looked at Natsu, and even a subtle touch of terror, but as she leaned forwards her eyes glistened with expectation. "Your little 'friend' is already out there making the most of your weakness, but in fact he's making his way straight to the jaws of death."
Natsu's grip tightened, feeling the dread that she predicted even if he couldn't understand why. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"We think that Gray overheard and is trying to kill Zeref himself," Lucy explained to Natsu, her voice soft and sympathetic as she watched Natsu's reaction carefully. "He took off not long after Happy said it."
Natsu's eyes grew wider. "He wouldn't!"
"That's what I said at first," Lucy sighed, looking away and wringing her hands together awkwardly. "But then, he was so determined, and-"
"Lucy," Natsu cut her off suddenly, grabbing onto her arms and digging in his fingers tightly as her face was pulled close to hers. "He wouldn't," he said, remembering vividly the look on his friend's face as the demonic power released its hold upon him and sank him back into sanity. He saw the same look echoed across Gray's face, the expression in his eyes as he looked at a childhood friend.
Lucy trembled under his touch, not sure whether she wanted to warn Natsu that he sounded deep in denial or follow his lead and believe in Gray. She sorely wanted to. "I-I don't understand…" she whispered, looking at Natsu's eyes and pleading for answers she knew he couldn't possess. "I want to believe he would do anything to protect you, but why would he run off knowing Zeref's death would kill you?"
Natsu could feel his heart stop suddenly. "I know what he's going to do," he said, his voice as cold as the magic he dreaded. "We have to stop him."
Brandish and Juvia Try to Find Gray
Brandish and Juvia continued their walk, seeing the cold devastation that the Ice Maker had left on his path towards Zeref. "Juvia must see Gray-sama… Gray-sama needs her Juvia…" she was muttering to herself under her heavy breathing, every step more difficult than the last.
Brandish didn't want to hear about how much the woman beside her was in love with yet another stranger. She had some lingering loyalties towards Happy, Lucy and Natsu and she wasn't exactly sure how she had got herself babysitting the sick rain woman. She appeared delusional to Brandish, who was completely unused to her usual lovesickness. "Do I need to remind you that I'm only here to protect the emperor?" she said, turning back to the path ahead. "If your 'Gray-Sama' has full intention of destroying him and I believe he may be capable, I may have to kill him."
Juvia's eyes grew wide. "You wouldn't-"
"Don't mistake me," Brandish said, a dangerous flicker in her eyes. "The only reason you are alive is because I have no real reason to put you out of your misery," she said, her voice hollow and restless. "But if your 'boyfriend' is a threat to Alverez then I will have no choice."
Juvia's face burned bright red, disappearing into her fantasy world. "Juvia's… boyfriend…?"
Brandish didn't even have the energy to roll her eyes, but in that moment her attention was otherwise caught. She looked forwards, feeling the wave of cold energy across them and the familiar echo of Ice Make magic. A frown crossed her face, looking at the horizon and seeing the sheer distance of land between the dark lord and their position. "He must not have gotten far," she murmured.
Juvia stumbled forwards, her eyes wide but not filled with the same joy that she had expected upon seeing her beloved. The air was cold but she couldn't feel the same spark inside of her chest. It still pounded heavily, however, as a new sense of joy came as she rushed forwards. "Lyon-san!" she exclaimed, finally coming close enough to see the second Ice Maker. "And Meredy!"
Lyon and Meredy had clearly seen better days, a few new scars clearly visible on the Ice Maker's body but doing nothing to hide the smile on his face upon seeing the water wizard. Juvia's arms were quickly in his hands, staring at her in disbelief and pure relief. "Juvia, you're safe," he said, though he took another look at her and thought to retract his statement. "You're wounded…" he commented, preparing a cooling balm for her reopened laceration.
Juvia's lips turned to a thin straight line, staring back at him. "Juvia is fine," she assured him coldly. "Juvia needs to find Gray-sama. Have you seen him?" she asked quickly.
Lyon looked at her and looked back at Brandish, resisting the urge to throw himself between them and protect the woman he loved. Brandish seemed to be paying very little attention to them, however, and Juvia seemed less than worried by her presence. Eventually he shook his head. "The last time I saw Gray he was with you," he admitted.
Suddenly the cold in the air took a sharp spike downwards. The earth seemed to tremble, an unholy shiver beneath their feet. Even Brandish looked alarm at the sudden rise in magical energy twisting through the air, and the sudden heart-wrenching silence which enveloped the land. "What is it this time?!" Juvia called out, holding onto her head.
"Is this another of the Spriggan's spells?!" Meredy questioned, looking all around her for the impending attack.
Lyon's terror flashed wildly in his eyes. He was senseless, frozen by the impending fear and the terrifying flashbacks that were returning to him with vivid pain. "No… This feeling… It can't be…" he stammered.
"Lyon-san?" Juvia questioned, staring back at the only man who seemed to hold answers.
Lyon's head raised to look into her eyes uneasily, a disbelief but horror overcoming him. "This magical energy, I've felt it before. This is the spell that killed Ur. Gray is casting Iced Shell."
Gray Makes a Choice
Gray's arms were crossed, the magical energy pouring through his veins as he kept his eyes pinned on his target. Zeref was still pinned under the ice magic but he knew that it wouldn't last long, and Iced Shell was a long and difficult spell to cast. He gritted his teeth hard, feeling his magic ripping away from his muscles and tearing through his soul and wondering if his final iced creation would still be able to feel pain.
Zeref looked at the new enemy in disbelief, unsure how he ever could have so drastically miscalculated. He was impressed, but there was a new and growing fear that he hadn't even known he could possess. "I won't be trapped in this world for eternity," he panted heavily, realising that Gray was stealing his last wish to die. "My Spriggan will come to my aid and they will release me! This changes nothing!"
"Moon Drip?" Gray questioned, a small smile appearing on his face as he saw the surprise on Zeref's face that he knew of the ancient technique. Clearly, he didn't pay too much attention to his demons once they had left his library. "Usually, yes. That would melt Iced Shell, in time, but Moon Drip affects demons differently. Moon Drip melts Demon Slayer Ice far slower than any other form," he said, remembering the flask of the precious liquid against Sun Village after his father had frozen the entire land. "More than this, Moon Drip affects the memories of demons. Even if you are resurrected in time, your memories will be sapped by the reversal spell."
Zeref lowered his eyes into a glare. There would be other ways, other Spriggan that would find new ways to release him from the cage that Gray was going to inflict upon him but time was more of a factor than it ever had been. In this time Natsu was at his strongest and this was the only time that he could offer him the sweet release of death. Acnologia was still lying in rest, ready to pounce at an opportunity of weakness. For the first time in several centuries, time finally mattered to the immortal. "You would spend your life to stop me?" he questioned.
The light around the Ice Maker grew stronger, the swirling ice around him brighter as the magic was beginning to form. His body was dropping in temperature, hairline cracks appearing across his body and deepening with every moment he stared. His eyes opened, once again staring back to Zeref. "I promised my old man that I would destroy END. So I'm giving my life to make sure that you can't have him. I'm not spending my life to stop you, I'm spending my life to save Fairy Tail!"
He closed his eyes for the briefest of moments. "I'm sorry, Natsu," Gray thought, his voice projecting over the battlefields to where he believed the Dragon Slayer still rested unconscious. "I know I promised you that I wouldn't use this spell. I don't want to die, but I can't watch you die. This is the only way to stop him without killing you."
"Ice Block, don't be an idiot!" a voice called from the sky.
Gray's eyes suddenly flew back open, drifting upwards. His magic was fluctuating in his body, ready to explode at any moment, but his attention was suddenly straight towards the irritating Dragon Slayer flying above him. Dragon Slayers. His eyes crossed from Natsu to Wendy, Happy and Charlie on each of their backs as they all looked down at him expectantly. He recognised the look in Natsu's eyes, recognised the sentiment and the heartache, and turned his attention back to Zeref. "This is the only way," he whispered.
"There's always another way!" Natsu yelled back across the valley, hearing his soft words easily with his dragon hearing.
Gray gritted his teeth tightly, the blue magic crackling around him. This wasn't an argument that he wanted to be having right now, but he could feel a tear running down his cheek. "Didn't my voice reach you, Natsu?!" he shouted suddenly, all of the terrifying fear and anguishing pain finally flooding into his voice, his trembling determination stopping the Dragon Slayer in his tracks. "I don't want you to die!"
Natsu's eyes grew wide, recognising his own words thrown back to him. 'I stopped you earlier because I didn't want you to die. Didn't my voice reach you?' It felt like an age ago, they felt nothing like the two boys that had spent their days fighting, laughing and fighting some more. There were some things that would never change, however. Their pride for their guild, the loyalty in their fists and the protectiveness in their hearts. "Happy!" Natsu shouted as the cat pounded forwards, hurtling them both through the air.
"I'm sorry, Natsu, you're too late," Gray thought, his eyes closing as spell enveloped him in the beautiful light, his face splintering into ice.
"No, I'm afraid it is you that is too late."
Gray's eyes suddenly flew open. Zeref's words were all around him and suddenly he could see the blinding blue light of his final spell fighting against a smothering darkness. Zeref had not moved from the spot, but between the dark shadows he could see that he was holding onto his head, a trickle of sweat running down his face as the black mass spiralled and overcame them all. It only lasted for a second, a sudden explosion to rival his own, as his eyes were thrown even wider and were unable to close.
In less than a second, the darkness and light shimmered into nothingness. The world was once again still. The ice beneath Zeref's feet cracked and fell helplessly around him against the black earth. The blue markings underneath the Gray's feet faded to nothing. And he began to fall.
"Gray!" Natsu yelled, Happy pushing even harder forwards as they made the final decent to the ground. He swung into the Ice Maker's side, clutching him tightly as the Dragon Slayer and exceed skidded across the ground, protectively holding him close to his chest as the rocks and debris tore through his own skin. Even still, the Ice Maker's bare skin was nothing to the shrapnel and it tore red marks through him easily. It wasn't enough to worry Natsu, however, not when he was holding onto a still and cold body in his arms. "Gray! Gray wake up!" he screamed, tears already in his eyes as he felt the overwhelming power of darkness from the black circle below them.
The dark lord put a hand on his forehead, for a moment almost appearing ashamed of the deadly curse that he had inflicted. "Ankhseram leaves no survivors," he said, his voice low.
Natsu's eyes shot up to his elder brother, a look that could kill as he stared back at him. Zeref wasn't approaching or using this opportunity to come closer, either through respect or confidence, but either way it tore through Natsu's anger. He could hear Wendy by his side, feel the familiar comforting healing magic twisting through the air as she spoke her soft prayers for the Ice Maker in his arms. He could feel Gray's sightless eyes staring at him even as he refused to break eye contact with the dark emperor, his grip tightening. "You bastard!" he hissed to his brother.
Zeref's hands were open, almost in a display of peace as he stayed firmly rooted to the spot. This was the curse he lived with his entire life and he had long since become dulled to its affects, but seeing through his little brother's despair made mercy that little stronger. "Do you really think this curse could have been cured by sky magic?" he said, a sadness he thought forgotten still in his eyes. "If that had been the case, my suffering would have been made so much easier."
Natsu gritted his fangs angrily, dropping the lost friend to the ground as the flames blazed around him. "You don't know the meaning of suffering yet!" he screamed, pouncing forwards as his eternal flame whispered around him, fist pointed straight towards Zeref.
Holding a Captive
Erza's eyes opened slowly. She didn't remember exactly when she lost consciousness, but it must have been while holding onto the small Dragon Slayer as she was the last thing she could remember. The visions blurred together as she had fallen to the ground, thinking for a moment that she had been able to hear Natsu's voice.
"Erza, you're awake!" Lucy exclaimed, her voice filled with new relief.
Erza sat up slowly, a hand on her head and feeling yet more bandages striping her body. The images of war, anger, death and the brink of destruction were now flooding back to her. This was the second time she had woken in this way so far, but as she looked up at Lucy she couldn't see the same beaming grin that Gray had given her last time. This time victory, if there was any victory at all, was bitter. "What's happening? Where is Wendy?" she said, lifting herself up but suddenly crying out in pain.
"You mustn't move yet," Polyusica said sternly, her hand firmly pressed on Erza's shoulder as she gave her a warning look.
"Wendy is with Natsu," Lucy said, remembering just how injured the poor Sky Dragon had been. She had insisted on going with Natsu with her exceed, who looked just as injured as she did, but Charlie had the look on her face when she had a terrifying premonition and Wendy simply couldn't ignore that. "They've both gone to… to find Zeref."
Erza's eyes grew wider. "What?" she breathed, the image of the injured girl racing through her mind and the thought of her fighting the most powerful wizard in Earthland right now filled her with terror.
"They think that Gray is going to try and cast Iced Shell on Zeref. They're trying to stop him before he can," Lucy said, realising just how messed up it sounded as she was explaining. "I tried to go with them, but Charlie and Wendy can transport them far faster than I can keep up, and Dimaria still needs to be guarded," she said, glancing back at the hostage in the corner of the room.
Erza stared in disbelief, feeling her heart suddenly pounding in her chest.
Dimaria was laughing. Her toes curled backwards beneath her, her entire body shuddering as she laughed. A wild look rested in her eyes as she leaned forwards, pulling on her restraints and feeling empowered by the pain they gave her. "This serves you right for standing in the way of our armies!" she warned them. "Your friends won't stand a chance against the emperor!"
Lucy stood up, swiftly throwing her foot into the captives face as a powerful anger flooded her expression. "Don't you dare underestimate Fairy Tail," she hissed.
She seemed unfazed by the attack, already bound and beaten and feeling beyond the feeble outbursts of a small girl. "Randi will be avenged!" she spat back at Lucy, shaking in determination.
"Brandish isn't dead, she doesn't need to be avenged!" Lucy shouted back.
A grin flashed onto Dimaria's face suddenly. "Oh no?" she said, her eyes flickering suddenly. "She is not dead, but you have corrupted her into weakness," she said, her voice manic as she tilted her head. "She will avenge herself, however, and prove her loyalty to the emperor once more."
Lucy staggered backwards, wanting to believe that these were just the slurring of a mad-woman. "Brandish is… she's going to stop…"
"Why do you think she took the rain woman with her?" Dimaria sniggered.
Juvia feels pain
Juvia could feel it inside of her. She could feel the huge pressure against her heart shuddering her feet to a stop even as she should have been running. She could feel her eyes growing wide, her breathing running short, as if she was feeling the terror of her own demise. "Gr-Gray-Sama?" she stuttered, holding onto her chest.
"Juvia, we need to hurry!" Lyon was yelling desperately, his anger suddenly stopping as he felt the air calm. He looked around himself, eyes finding the origin of the strange magical energy that had suddenly dropped into nothingness.
"Gray-sama…" Juvia whispered again, her eyes clouded in sudden tears. "Something terrible… terrible has happened…"
Meredy's arm was on her side, a hand on her back. Watching her, a thoughtful frown crossed her face. "This must be a side effect of my sensory link magic…" she realised, seeing the hurtful expression written across Juvia's face and feeling the familiar pulse of her magic. "Your love must have been close enough to regain a form of connection even after I broke it. You can feel what has happened?"
Juvia's eyes were clouded with tears. "It hurts… It hurts just like… It hurts just like losing him…"
Lyon and Meredy's eyes were wide, exchanging a glance that only the three of them could understand. "We need to hurry," Lyon said quickly, grabbing Juvia tightly and dragging her back to her feet, an arm around her as he forced her to take the next few steps forwards.
Brandish followed, her steps slow and deliberate as she made her way gradually back to her commanding emperor.
Natsu gets mad
Natsu screamed as another flaming fist came down upon the dark lord. Gray had landed a few decent blows against the immortal but he had barely weakened him, but now it was time for the brothers to finally have the fight that they were always destined to have.
The dark energy reached out of Zeref's hand, aiming its deadly blow straight towards Natsu. Natsu pushed his hands out in front of him, panting heavily as he caught the deadly curse and pushed it back. Zeref's eyes grew wide. "No one… no one has ever…!" he exclaimed, barely able to believe his eyes.
Natsu tightened his hand into a fist as the last of the dark magic simmered into steam. The hand which clutched the strange magic was changing, shifting into spiralling red as the skin flaked away, revealing the bright and beautiful red dragon scales beneath. "You created me," he hissed, his voice more demonic than human as his eyes flashed, a flickering flame replacing his irises. "Don't underestimate me," he said.
"You have to show me the way!" Natsu exclaimed angrily to Lucy while in his dream-like state, begging him for the release when he was certain that he would die.
"I'm just a part of you, I only know what you know," Lucy told him as she clutched his hand tightly. "And right now you have hope. You know what you are, you know who you are, and you know what you are capable of. I believe in you."
Natsu gritted his teeth, feeling the swirling storm of flame covering his entire body and erupting over the landscape, forcing the sky wizard and exceeds to plant their footing rather than find themselves thrown back by the radiating heat. "I am END. I am a Demon. I am a Dragon Slayer," he said, his cheek cracking as he spoke and revealing more of the scales beneath. "But this isn't the power that will defeat you. Fairy Tail gives me my strength. The people that I care about fuel every step forwards. I will protect the people I love. I will avenge those we have lost. FAIRY TAIL WILL BE YOUR END!"
His fist came hurtling down to Zeref, setting the ground itself on fire in a stream of dark fire. It was merciless, tearing through the ground in the new rage as the world exploded into fiery carnage.
Wendy's hand was over her face, panting heavily as she protectively threw her body across the still Ice Maker. "We need to get him back!" she called to the exceed, grunting heavily.
"Wendy, he's…" Charlie began, looking down.
"No!" Wendy screamed, "I refuse to give up! Not until every last drop of my magic is gone! I won't let him die!"
The fight between the Dragneel brothers continued to rage in exploding flames and crushing darkness. It was more than the Wendy could bear, sweat dripping down her face as she could concentrate only on keeping herself and the exceeds safe. Her leg was aching, movements nearly impossible even if she did decide that she would flee from the demonic shadows before her. Everything was blurring into a wave of heat and exhaustion and she felt herself drawing closer to passing out. "I won't… Give up…" she murmured, her eyes closing.
A shower of cool air suddenly shattered across the battlefield as a gleaming crystal tiger pounced forwards, jaws wide open to accept the stray fireball that was coming hurtling towards the exceed. The fireball flew straight into the creature's mouth, shattering cooling ice across the ground. Wendy blinked, her senses returning with the sudden relief from the overpowering heat, turning back to the caster. "Lyon-san! Juvia-san!" she exclaimed, watching the water and ice wizards skidding down the crater towards them.
"Gray-Sama!" Juvia shouted, skidding to her knees beside the Dragon Slayer and staring down at her beloved. Her eyes felt heavy with new tears, her hand on his chest as she felt his cold stillness running up to her heart. Her words caught in her throat, eyes wide as the crushing pain she had felt before suddenly exploded into real agony.
"You need to defend us!" Wendy shouted to them both, already feeling the tears from the horrified onlookers blocking their actions. "I need to concentrate!"
Juvia and Lyon's eyes locked together, nodding as Juvia rose back to her feet. She took her side by Lyon, her hands gripped tightly as she fought against the aching pain and fear inside of her. "Juvia will defend Gray-Sama with her life," she said, throwing forwards her water slicers.
The water magic slung through the air towards Zeref, only to disappear the moment it passed onto their battlefield. Juvia took a staggered step back, the look of shock written across her face. "What…?" she gasped.
"The heat must have been too much. Here," Lyon said, lowering his expression as his fingers twisted into the two-sided ice maker magic he dutifully taught himself in Ur's honour. In front of him, a huge iced snake bellowed forwards, hissing wildly as it dove forwards. Once again, the magic disappeared from sight, sending the shocked wizard once again staring in disbelief.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you interfere," Brandish said, standing upon the top of the crater as she looked down upon the scattered wizards below.
Their hate-filled glances instantly turned back to the Spriggan, curses on their lips as they stared up at the calm wizard threatening them. "You double-crossed us!"
The green-haired woman frowned lightly, having long since grown tired of explaining her alliances. "My loyalty has always been to Alverez, I have made this clear from the beginning. I know that I am no match against END and I see no reason to join this battle if only to get myself killed. However, I can stop you interfering as the dark emperor takes care of things."
Erza Marches Forwards
Erza fell to her knees for the third time, gripping onto her staff tightly and planting it deep into the ground to keep herself from falling forwards. The expression of concern across Lucy's face only made her bare her teeth tighter, firing the determination in the pit of her stomach that was in danger of drowning into pain.
"Erza, are you sure you can…?" Lucy's words trailed off, recognising the look that Erza had written across her face. She could be in the arms of death and still power forwards with this look. Her friends were in danger, her family was in danger, her brothers were in danger, and nothing was more encouraging or terrifying than that expression.
Erza miraculously pulled herself back onto her feet, using the staff to raise her body tall and proud. "I know I won't be able to do much," she admitted to Lucy, the surprise across the celestial wizard's face bringing a smile to her own. "I'm too weak to fight and I'm no match against Zeref in this state. However, Natsu is ten times stronger when fighting beside his friends."
Lucy's shock turned into a smile. "It's the same for me too," she admitted. "My friends will make me stronger. We will win this war."
Wendy Tries
Wendy gasped, the sweat and blood mingling as she held her hands above her friend's body and felt the blinding light of her sky magic wash over her. She could feel the familiar power pouring down but felt none of the warmth beneath her fingers that she was used to receiving back, her heart racing quicker in fears she wouldn't admit she had.
"Wendy, you're pushing yourself too hard…" Charlie said softly, putting her hand on her thigh and gently trying to show Wendy her words were painful but spoken out of love.
Wendy felt a huge tug of exhaustion pushing the air out of her lungs, but still she continued. The tears streamed down her eyes unhindered, the painful resolution keeping her hands in place and the lost magic twisting through her fingers. "No! I won't give up! He can't be dead, he can't be!" she shouted above the chorus of her magical hum, her magic blasting into brilliant light. "Gray has always cared for me like an older brother. Gray-san, if you can still hear me, we need your courage!"
The older Dragon Slayer couldn't block Wendy's desperate plea as he tried to concentrate on his own battle, blocking the emperor's fists as it flew to his arm and sent him spiralling backwards. He cursed loudly, his hate filled glance burning through his fiery eyes. His body was more demon than human, more dragon than demon, but his mind was filled with only the thoughts of a Fairy. "You will pay for what you've done a thousand-fold, bastard!"
Zeref panted, his energy drained to almost nothing and clearly seeing that he was on the weaker side. No matter the difference in strength, however, there was one advantage he had. "Have you forgotten, brother?" he asked, straightening himself up to meet Natsu's eyes, monster to monster. "You cannot kill me."
"Don't call me that," Natsu growled, pouncing forwards and diving into the sky, huge black wings ripping out of his back and blazing in his terrifying might.
"Are you denying that you are my brother?" Zeref asked, curious why of all things in the middle of the battle he would pinpoint on a name. "I've spent so long waiting for you, Natsu. I spent so long trying to bring you back."
"You think that's what makes a brother?" Natsu hissed, hovering in the air above him as he pulled upon his flaming talons. "Brother's fight. They irritate each other and sometimes they even want to kill each other. But a brother is someone that you can trust with your life, with the life of everyone that you care for, someone that you believe in no matter what."
"Gray, please… Come back…" Wendy's tearfilled begs filled his ears, even as he plummeted to the ground towards Zeref.
"And you've just killed mine," Natsu glared, his eyes filled with burning hatred as he slammed his talons straight into the dark emperor, erupting the world into one final explosion of flames and anger.
A Stalemate
Natsu swayed on his feet, glaring back at the crater that he had created and the dark lord that was inside. It smouldered and hissed angrily, but he could see no more movement from inside. Thankfully so, as he could feel his magical energy was down to almost nothing. He suspected that his brilliant final attack had been enough to knock back the brother, but the fact that he was still standing told him without a doubt that the immortal was still alive. It would take quite a bit more work than that to extinguish the life from him.
The entire battlefield had stopped, staring into the darkness and waiting for the outcome.
"Natsu…" The voice from the steam only confirmed his suspicions. The steam parted and a shadow of the robed man stood within the remains of the flickering fire. His steps were slow and filled with pain, and as his face finally freed of the clouds it was clear to see the sadness flooded his expression. "I'm sorry that it should come to this," he said, preparing the final spell of his own.
"Stop!" came a cry from the East.
Zeref's eyes grew wide, even before he had seen who it was. He could feel his hand wavering at the smallest and softest of requests, feel the pain in the tiny girl's call that he struggled to contend with.
Mavis was running straight towards them, her bare feet flinching with every step across the burning hot ground as she placed herself between the man she had once loved and the guild that she had once raised. Her arms held out wide, stopping and staring at Zeref. "You have to stop!" she challenged him.
Zeref narrowed his eyes, feeling something similar to the strong emotions he had years to defend himself from. "Mavis, move out of my way…"
"If you want Fairy Heart, then you can take it!" she cried out.
Zeref's eyes grew suddenly wide in understanding. Mavis was before him, as beautiful and defiant as ever, her arms outstretched and her small chest pressed forwards as her body glowed with the light of a long lost magical energy.
"Mavis, no, you can't!" Erza climbed over the side of the valley, staring down at the new decimation that was before her and trying to make sense of the unfolded terror. "We can't let Zeref have that kind of power!"
"I'm afraid that I have not been entirely truthful…" Mavis admitted, receiving a stunned silence from enemies and friends alike as she looked down, a sudden shame written across her face. "Fairy Heart is not the spell that you have been led to believe it is."
The battlefield looked upon the small illusionist, stunned to disbelief. "What are you talking about?" Natsu said impatiently. Even Zeref looked quietly concerned, not moving from the spot and allowing the tiny girl to make her way through the halting explanation.
"I wasn't lying when I said it has limitless magical energy, in the way that it is impossible to run out. Indeed, once it may have been used to fire a weapon a thousand times over, but over the years I have come to realise the magical energy has been twisted into one single use."
"So… it's not a weapon?" Lucy asked.
Mavis kept her eyes pinned upon Zeref, realising that he was understanding far quicker than anyone ever could. "It is a weapon, with one sole purpose. To create mortality from immortality."
Natsu took a staggered step back. The entire battle, the lives lost and those that had been broken had all come down to this moment, to this magical energy which unlocked everything that both friend and foe had desired. "If you can make him mortal than just do it already!" he exclaimed, his hands tight fists.
Zeref understood. He kept his eyes on Mavis, tilting his head gently to the side as he contemplated the difficult decision that rested in the Fairy Tail founder's hands. "If you use that magic on me you will immortal forever," he summised.
Mavis trembled, her lips quivering as she stared back at Zeref. "You wanted this!" she cried out. "You wanted to be mortal! You've already killed too many people here, this is the only way to stop it! So take Fairy Heart and become mortal!" she announced, tears falling down her eyes.
Zeref stepped closer, everything he had wanted in front of him. All of his plans seemed to be unfolding in ways that he simply couldn't have imagined, the chance to die resting in the body of the woman that he loved, his brother's strength standing behind him. A chance for mortality wasn't just to die, it was to live, it was the ability to have life for the few short years before he could finally claim his well-deserved rest. "You could have done this sooner," he said, taking another small step forwards. "You could have unleashed this power when we had you in your guild. You could have spared so much. Why didn't you?"
Her eyes sprouted with new tears. "Because I don't want to live without you."
The roar of Acnolgia shook covered the land.